Traditional
The Greenwood Sidie (The Cruel Mother)
[Verse 1]
There was a lady lived in York
On-a-lee an lonee
Fell in love with her father's clerk
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 2]
She loved him up, she loved him down
On-a-lee and lonee
Loved him 'til he filled her arms
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 3]
She leaned her back against an oak
On-a-lee and lonee
First it bend, and then it broke
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 4]
She leaned her back against a thorn
On-a-lee and lonee
There she had two fine babes born
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 5]
She took out her wee pеn knife
On-a-lee and lonee
There shе took those sweet babes' life
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 6]
She wiped the blade against her shoe
On-a-lee and lonee
The more she rubbed the redder it grew
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 7]
She went back to her father's hall
On-a-lee and lonee
Saw two babes a playin' at ball
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 8]
Oh, babes! Oh, babes! If you were mine
On-a-lee and lonee
I'd dress you up in scarlet fine
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 9]
Oh, Mother! Oh, Mother! When we were yours
On-a-lee and lonee
Scarlet was our own heart's blood
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o
[Verse 10]
Oh, babes! Oh, babes! It's Heaven for you
On-a-lee and lonee
Mother! Oh, Mother! It's Hell for you
Down by the Greenwood Sidie-o